Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-04
BABY WARDROBES.
How n Man Makes Purchases.

] y
seemed to have run itself dry. Conse-
quently the maidens made themselves
up into little groups and talked in that
subdued tone of voice calculated TO
make everyone anxious to learn the
subject of their conversation. As they
talked very mild-looking young man
strolled in leisurely manner into the
store and looked about him. He was
dressed in what is popularity called the
height of fashion, which summit usual
" includes some carefully creased
trousers. some brickdust-colored gloves,
an admirably CLOSED beaver hat, and
some pointed leather boots. To say
that the young man looked embarrassed
is TO express family the condition of his
countenance. He seemed. as they put
it in Paris, like a chicken that has found
a penknfe and had no idea what to do
with it, First he gazed at the grouped
maidens, then his glance took in the
goods that hung in careless pendulosity
over the counters. Finally his diflidence
T
turned himself streetward.
IL know what he wants. poor young
man." said the foremost of the mai
dens, pretty brunette. heaving sigh
and supplementing it with a laugh,
Il d help him if | could, Girls. stop
laughing. He'll think you're making
fun of him Men always do when
they're in any doubt.
''I-I-d-don't know whether II
am a-at the fright counter, I'm
sure" he stammered. The f-fact is
I'm n-not used to sh-shoppng My
w-wife g-generally does tier
81 knew it," whispered one Of the
girls to her neighbor, rather audibly
He has wife. He looks it. l sym
pathize."
In fact, - resumed the unfortunate
young man. casting about for assist
ance and finding none. 'w-when She
asked me to buy it for her | refused.
1t m-makes f-fellow Hook so d-deuc-
edly stupid, don't yer know"
Not at all, y said the brunette. with
her most touching smile. Il assure
YOU that YOU make mistake We
don't mind what YOU buy. and I'm sure
the proprietors of the store don't, as
long as you pay for it As you were
SAYING however -"
Il hardly like to ask for it, said the
young man; ITS such fearful thing
to express | assure You | walked up
and down the street, outside the store.
trying to pluck up courage to enter |
didn't find much courage. but entered
all the same What a lot of girls to
wait on one man. The young fellow
sighed as he made this remark Then
he stopped down and said in low tone
to the pretty brunette: IL want to
b-buy b-bustle.
1t was too much for human nature,
and feminine human nature at that.
The girls laughed quietly, rippingly,
but Enthusiastically. There was not
straight face at the counter except that
belonging TO the young man, which was
suffused with carmne tints and dis
tress.
Nv what k-kind will YOU have?' ask
ed the pretty brunette, her lips CULVER
ing with emotion, assuredly ill-sup-
pressed We have these small ones at
40 cents. They wear very well most
adaptable. comfortable. and effective,
sir"
Don't" said the young man pathet-
ically. Il don't want it, that is to say.
| need one of those long bustles that 90
half way down the back of the dress
IL don't know what you call them, but
they look like b-bird cage
Precisely said the pretty brunette.
precisely" Then she brought vast
collection of the articles. placed them
on the counter and waited patiently I'M
til the miserable young man had made
his selection. Then she sent the pur-
chase away to be wrapped IN paper,
and tried to engross the customer in
casual conversation about the weather
and other absorbing topics. She was
totally unsuccessful. The young man
walked about twenty yards from the
counter and stood there in painful med
'tation until the goods were ready for
him to carry away Then without
word of parting he walked straight to
the door. opened it with trembling fin
gers, shut it behind him with consider
able dexterity, and ran across the street
like one possessed-of a hustle.
] was an eye witness and an ear wit
ness to this scene, at some little dis
lance | confess. / was sorry for the
young man, but utterly unable to re-
sist joining in the mirth of the maidcns
which lasted for five minutes. After
the pretty brunette merriment had ex
hausted she became communicative and
talked with much volubility. II know
/ ought not to laugh at such scene as
that, she said, because it is such a